Heating apparatus



Dec. 27, 1938. B. lN 2,141,873

HEATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 29, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l A. B. MODINE HEATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 29, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 if A? QM when 33 frzverzzfi. a arZ/urfi ffaczz'rze 40 Figs. 1 and 2;

Patented Dec. 27, 1 938 UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE HEATING APPARATUS Arthur B. Modine, Racine, Wis., assignor to M- dine Manufacturing Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application August 29, 1936, Serial No. 98,604

3 Claims. (Cl. 126-110) This invention relates to heating apparatus, being provided, preferably, adjacent the lower and particularly to a device wherein the heat portion of the respective ends thereof with openproducing and heat exchange elements are comings l4 and I5 for the admission of air into the bined in a unitary structure. combustion chamber, the openings being shown,

5 One object of the present invention is to proin the present instance, as provided with a wire 5 vide a structure of maximum heat exchange cascreen IE or other suitable filtering fabric for pacity, and wherein the products of combustion P ve g the ad ss o du other o are drawn through the heat exchange devices by n er into t e comb o c amberthe operation of a novel circulating means acting Mounted in the chamber l3 and extending lonalso to pass currents of air to be heated over the gitlidiha-lly thereOf is a burner. indicated as a 10 said devices. whole by the numeral 11, and comprising a plu- Another object of the invention is to provide a rality of perforated tubes provided P structure havin a pilot for fighting th in rality of perforations l9, preferably, along their burner, and wherein the supply of fuel to the pp e portion for the discharge 0; fuel burner is automatically controlled by the condirom. 16 tion of the pilot light and by the temperature or s p y n fuel. such as illuminating as, conditions existing in the heat exchange devices. or example, to t e burner a distributor head- A further object of the invention is to provide 20 is positioned adjacent one end of the tubes l8 a heating apparatus which is compact, highly in a manner to communicate with the tubes and 20 eflicient, of maximum capacity, and wherein the P v d a pp t therefor, and communicating 20 safe and eificient operation of the device is autoso w e distributor head 29 is an elongated matically controlled. tubular member 2| providing a mixing chamber A still further objectof the invention is to imnd h v g a p d portion adjacent th prove devices of the character described in sun- Opening l5 and one Of the screens for the dry details hereinafter referred to and particumission o t0 the mixing chamber and to 25 larly pointed out in the appended claims. ceive t e l o e 22 communicating t a One embodiment of the present invention i fuel supp y p pe 23 adapted-to be connected to a shown for illustrative purposes in the accomsuitable s ce of fuel s p or expanying drawings, in which: ample, to a gas main. Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, or c ol t e passage of fuel to the nozzle 30 of a heating apparatus embodying features of e s pp P p 23 is P d with a solenoid the present invention; valve, indicated as a whole by the numeral 24, Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in secand comprising a housing 25 in which is mounted tion, of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1; a valve 26 having a stem 21, shown, in the present Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational tan as extending upwardly therefrom and 35 view partly in section, illustrating the arrangeoperatively connected to an electrically operated ment of a burner, pilot li ht and t solenoid 28, by the energizing of which, the valve operated mercury switch in relation thereto and is o ced downwardly against the forte exerted forming a part of the embodiment illustrated in by a sp i 29 which acts to close the valve 16 t when the solenoid 28 is de-energized. Fig. 4 is anenlarged sectional elevational view For automatically igniting the gas at the burner of the main fuel supply valve illustrating the I! whenthe solenoid valve 24 is opened, a pilot arrangement of a solenoid for actuating the valve; light 3| is positioned in the housing II in operand ative relation to-the burner and connected by 5 Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the structure means of the pipe 32 to the supply pipe 23 for shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. and illustrating by-passing the gas around the main solenoid the arrangement of an electricalcircuit employed valve 24, the pipe 32 being provided with a hand for automatically controlling the operation of operated valve 33 for controlling a supply of gas Y the heating apparatus. to the pilot light.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention Mounted adjac t the pp d portion of the 50 shown in the drawings comprises an elongated housing H and communicating with the comhousing, indicated as a whole by the numeral ll, bustion chamber formedrtherein are a plurality having upwardly and inwardly inclined side porof laterally extending flues 34 shown, in the prestions l2, and embodying a combustion chamber ent instance, 'as extending in opposite directions a IS in the upper portion thereof, the housing II from the combustion chamber and having a plu- F rality of heat radiating fins as mounted thereon,

the outer ends of the oppositely extending flues being provided, respectively, with headers 33 and 31 with which the fines 34 communicate for distribution of the heat and products of combustionfrom the-chamber I3.

Mounted on and communicating with the headers 33 and 31 are a plurality of conduits 33 shown, in thepresent instance, as extending upwardly therefrom and communicating at their upper ends with a casing 33 having a discharge pipe or opening 4| extending outwardly from the easing by which theproducts of combustion are discharged into theratmosphere, the casing 33 being shown, in the present instance, as provided with oppositely disposed brackets 42 by which the entire structure may be supported by means of hangers 43 or other suitable means; I

Mounted, preferably, on the conduits 33. by means of brackets 44, is an electric motor 45 having a shaft 43 mounted therein, the upper end of the shaft terminating within the housing 33 and being provided therein with a fan 41 for drawing air through the combustion chamber l3 and the products of combustion through the flues 34, headers 33 and 31 and conduits 33 into the casing 33 and discharging them therefrom through the discharge pipe 4|, the opposite end of the shaft 43 being provided with an impeller fan 48 for directing currents of air past the headers 33 and 31, flues 34 and the housing comprising the combustion chamber |3, the arrange- 'ment being such that the currents of air pass the headers, fines and combustion chamber on a plurality of sides thereof, thereby absorbing the maximum amount of heat in their passage, and obtaining a maximum degree in heat exchange emciency.

For suitably directing the heated air currents, a box-like member 43, having an open side adjacent the fan 43, may be positioned around the headers 33 and 31, lines 34 and combustion chamber I3, and may be provided at its discharge side with a plurality of adjustable deflectors 5| by which the heated air may be directed as desired.

Mounted in the distributor head 23 and extending therethrough into the combustion chamber |3 adjacent the pilot light 3|, is a thermal element, indicated as a whole by the numeral 52, comprising a cylinder 53 (Fig. 3) having a shaft 54 rotatably mounted therein, the rotation of the shaft being controlled by a bi-metal ribbon 55 having one of its ends secured to the shaft 54, as indicated at 53, and its opposite end to the cylinder 53, as indicated at 51, the outer end of the shaft 54 being provided with a mercury switch 53,.the arrangement of the thermal element being such that a major portion of its length is positioned within the distributor head l3 and only a small portion within the combustion chamber |3 closely adjacent the pilot light 3|, it being intended that the switch 53 will be closed only when the pilot light 3| is burning, and that the operation of the thermal element will be unaffected by the operation of the burner l1, such a condition being possible by reason of the cool gas passing through the distributor head l3 and the positioning of the distributor head adjacent the air inlet openings M of the housing ll, thus, it will be apparent that the mercury switch 53 will beopen when the pilot light is extinguished regardless of the operation of the burner l1.

- Mounted, preferably, in one of the headers 33 or 31, and shown, in the present instance, as

mounted in thelatter, is a thermal element 3| of a construction similar to that described with reference to the thermal element 52, the outer end of the shaft 32 of the element 3| being provided with a mercury switch 33 adapted, normally, to occupy a closed position and to open when the header becomes overheated or the temperature therein obtains a condition above normal, the switch 33 being provided with a projection or lug 34 (Fig. 5) adapted to be engaged by a resilient finger 35 when the switch is moved to open position for retaining the switch in such condition until the finger 35 is manually moved and the ing or extension 34 released.

Fig. 5 illustrates an electrical'circuit for controlling the operation of the heating apparatus, and wherein a motor circuit33 is operatively connected to the motor 45 and with a main line circuit 31 through a double-pole manually operated switch 33.

Connected in parallel with the motor circuit 33 is -a circuit 69 wherein the solenoid 2a of the solenoid valve 24 and the mercury switches 53 and 33 are connected in series with each other in a manner to control the operation of the solenoid valve 24 in accordance with the condition of the pilot light 3|, and in accordance with the temperature conditions existing within the header 31 with which the switch 33 is associated.

In the operation of the device, assuming that the pole switch 33 is closed, the pilot light 3| is burning and the burner l1 and motor 45 are operating normally, under which conditions, the main supply valve 23 will be open and the switches 53 and 33 will be closed as illustrated in Fig. 5. It will be apparent from the foregoing description that in the event of failure, for example, of the motor 45 to function properly, thereby interfering with the operation of the fan 41 to draw the gases of combustion from the headers 33 and 31, the overheating of. the header 31 resulting from such interference will cause the switch 33 to open, thereby breaking the circuit 33, de-energizing the solenoid 23 and permitting the spring 23 to close the main supply valve 23, and thereby shut off the supply of gas to the burner H. In the opening movement of the switch 33, the lug or projection 34 will be automatically engaged by the spring finger 35 and the switch 33 retained in open position until manually released, notwithstanding the cooling of the header 31 by reason of the discontinued operation of the burner |1.

It will be apparent else that in'the event of failure of the pilot light 3| to function, the switch 53 will be moved to open position, thereby breaking the circuit 33 to de-energize the solenoid 23 and permit the main valve 23 to close and remain in such condition until the pilot is again lighted, the thermal element 52 controlling the operation of the switch 53 being unaffected by the heat within the combustion chamber produced by the burner ii for the reasons previously described as due to the positioning of a major portion of the thermal element 52, by whichthe switch 53 is controlled, within the distributor head 23.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described as the same may be variously modified. Moreover. all the features of the invention need not be used conjointly as the same may be used to advantage in variously different combinations and sub-combinations.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by a combustion chamber, a plurality of flues com-. municating therewith and extending in -oppo-.

site directions therefrom. a plurality of headers connected, respectively, to said oppositely extending flues, a casing spaced from said chamber, a. plurality of conduits communicating with said casing and headers, a fan in said casing for drawing the products of combustion from said chamber into said casing and discharging them therefrom, and a second fan between said casing and combustion chamber for circulating currents of fresh air only past said headers, flues and chamber along a plurality of sides. thereof.

2. In a heating apparatus, the combination of a combustion chamber, a plurality of flues communicating therewith and extending in opposite directions therefrom, a plurality of headers connected, respectively, to said oppositely extending flues, a casing having a discharge passage and spaced from said chamber, a plurality of con- .duits communicating with said casing and headcombustion chamber for circulating currents of air past said headers, flues and chamber.

3. In a heating apparatus, the combination of a combustion chamber, a plurality of flues communicating therewith and extending in opposite directions therefrom, a plurality of headers con nected, respectively, to said oppositely extending flues, a casing having a discharge passage and spaced from said chamber, a plurality of conduits communicating with said casing and head-.

ers, a motor mounted on said conduits and positioned between said casing and combustion chamber and having a shaft extending into said casing, a fan on one end of said shaft in said casing for drawing the products of combustion from said chamber into said casing and discharging them therefrom through said discharge passage, a box-like member open at one side therethereof.

ARTHUR B. MODINE. 

